Variable circuit timer with improved contact securing means

ABSTRACT

ELECTRICAL CONTACT BLADE RETAINING MEANS ARE FORMED AS INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE TIMER HOUSING. THE RETAINING MEANS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TIMER CAM PROGRAMMING MEANS PERMITS DIFFERENT SWITCHING CIRCUITS TO BE READILY OBTAINED.

Jan. 5, 1971 w. R. BROWN VARIABLE CIRCUIT TIMER WITH IMPROVED CONTACT SECURING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i I n v INVENTOR WILLIAM R. BROWN ATI'OR E Jan. 5, 1971 w BRQWN 7 3,553,720

VARIABLE CIRCUIT TIMER WITH IMPROVED CONTACT SECURING MEANS Origin ai Filed Oct. 4. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W1 LLIAM R. BROWN United States Patent 3,553,720 VARIABLE CIRCUIT TIMER WITH IMPROVED CONTACT SECURING MEANS William Ray Brown, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 672,879, Oct. 4, 1967, now Patent No. 3,500,005, dated Mar. 4, 1970. This application Dec. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 886,962

The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Mar. 10, 1987, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. H01h 43/10 US. Cl. 200-38 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Electrical contact blade retaining means are formed as integral parts of the timer housing. The retaining means in conjunction with the timer cam programming means permits different switching circuits to be readily obtained.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 672,879, filed Oct. 4, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,500,005.

The present invention relates generally to electric switch actuating timing devices and concerns a timer well suited for controlling various operating cycles in appliances such as televisions, washers, dryers, etc.

Depending upon the particular appliance, various switch circuit arrangements are needed, depending upon the timing cycle desired. For example, in an automatic washer or dryer a single pole double throw, or a double pole, double throw switching arrangement may be needed.

The present invention is concerned with a timing device and has as one of its objects the provision of a timing device wherein different switching circuits are obtainable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device wherein the different circuits are readily and economically obtainable.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a timing device wherein the different circuits are obtainable by changing the number of electrical contact blades of the switching means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a timing device having contact blade retaining means unitarily constructed in the cover means of the timing device.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a timing device wherein the contact blade retaining means readily permits different switch circuits.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a timing device having cam programming means to actuate the switch contact blades.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device which is small and compact.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in a novel timing device substantially as described herein and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the invention here disclosed may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the timing device;

FIG. 2 shows the timing mechanism of the device in cross section;

FIGS. 3 through 6 are partial front elevations showing the operation of the contact blades of the device.

Generally speaking the objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a timing device having at least two electrical contact switch blades which are retained by means nnitarily constructed in the housing or cover of the device. The contact blades are actuated by a synchronous Patented Jan. 5, 1971 motor driven cam programming means. The retaining means for the contact blade in conjunction with the cam programming means readily controls the movement of the contact blades such that with the appropriate number of blades and contacts different switch circuits can be obtained. Such circuits include single pole single throw, single pole double throw, single pole double throw with neutral position, and double upper blades. These circuits can be readily obtained by simple substitution of the blades and the cam programming means.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a timing device 10 incorporating the novel features of the present invention. The timer is composed of two sub-assemblies, the motor assembly 11 and the switch timing mecha nism 12. Although not shown, the motor assembly includes a synchronous motor and an appropriate gear train necessary to drive the switch timing mechanism 12 through drive shaft 13. The housing or cover for the switch timing mechanism includes of cup-shaped member 14 and cover plate 15 adapted to close the same. Cover plate 15 is securely fastened to a base plate of the housing for the gear train assembly through a plurality of bolts 16 which extend through oblong shaped apertures 17. As shown, the cup-shaped member 14 and the cover plate 15 are preferably fabricated of an electrically insulating material such as a phenolic plastic, for example.

The essential parts of the switch timing mechanism, in general, comprises the switch contact blades 18 and 19 having electrical terminals 20 and 21 integrally formed as part of the blades, cam programming means 29, and contact blade retaining means 32 and 32a formed as an integral part of the cover 15, and cup-shaped member 14.

To the output shaft 13 of the synchronous motor there is attached a motor pinion 22. Motor pinion 22 meshes with drive gear 23 which carries a friction actuated clutch consisting of spring washers 24 and 24' connected to the gear. The gear and clutch assembly are connected to drive shaft means 25 which is journalled in an aperture 26 in the cup-shaped member 14. The other end of the drive shaft 25 is journalled through bushing 27 which is formed as an integral part of cover plate 15. Retaining ring 28 prevents axial movement of the shaft. Cam programming means 29 is fixedly held by shaft 25 such that it rotates in accordance with the rotation of the shaft. Cam programming means has a discrete arcuate step 30 formed in the cam surface 31, the step being formed in size and contour according to the desired program. As will be hereinafter described, such programming means will, with the proper selection of contact blades 18 and 19, and blade retaining means 32 and 32a, allow various switching circuits to be readily obtained, the operation of such circuits being controlled by the timing of the cam programming means 29.

Contact blade 18 is responsive to the cam programming means through the wedge shaped cam follower 33, the follower being formed as an integral part of the blade. Blade 18, being responsive to the cam programming means, is the actuator blade. Movement of the blade 18 causes electrical contact 34 to engage electrical contact 35 of blade 19. Such contacts are fabricated of a good electrically conductive material such as copper, for example.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown the timing device of the present invention adapted to give a single pole, single throw switching circuit arrangement. Cam programming means 29 forces blade 18 to rise when the wedge shaped cam follower 33 rides up and over the discrete arcuate step 30 thus closing contacts 34 and 35. Because of the contact blade retaining means 32 and 32a, the blades readily return to their original position when cam follower again reaches arcuate step 30. Blade retaining means 32 consists of a stepped blade seating member 36 integrally formed with and extending from cover 15, notches 37 and 38 formed in cupshaped member 14, and L-shaped seating member 39 integrally formed with and extending from cup shaped member 14. Blade retaining means 32a consists of an L-shaped seat member 40 and a substantially rectangular shaped retaining member 41, both of which are integrally formed with and extending from cover 15, L-shaped seat 42 and notches 43, 44 and 45 formed in cup-shaped member 14.

As is more clearly shown in FIG. 3, when the various components of the retaining means are placed in their proper relationship by placing cover 15 over the opening of cup shaped member 14, and when contact blades are inserted in slots 46 formed by the inter-relationship of the parts, the contact blades will be cantilevered at one end with the other end being free to bend in accordance with the actuation induced by cam programming means 29. As shown in FIG. 3, when the arcuate step 30 of the cam programming means again reaches the cam follower 33, blade 18 will return to the position shown, with blade 19 being stopped at the step 36 of stepped support member 36, thus breaking the electrical contact between contacts 34 and 35.

FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate the different switching circuits which can be made readily available with the retaining means 32 and 32a and proper cam programming means of the present invention. In FIG. 4 there is shown a single pole double throw switch. The double pole is readily obtainable by inserting another contact blade 47 having an electrical contact 48 and a unitarily constructed electrical terminal 49 in slot 50. Slot 50 is formed by relationship of stepped support member 36 and L-shaped seat 39. In this embodiment, electrical contact 34 of blade 18 will be in electrical contact with either contact 48 or contact 35 of blade 19 depending upon whether cam follower is riding in arcuate step 30 or the outer cam surface. In FIG. there is shown a single pole double throw circuit with neutral position. In this embodiment, cam programming means 29' has a double arcuate discrete step 30' wherein cam surfaces 51 and 51 cause blade 18 to be in a neutral position such that its contact does not engage any other contact. In FIG. 6, there is shown a double upper blade configuration. In this embodiment, the cam programming means is the same as in FIG. 5, but the blade 47 of FIG. 5 has been eliminated, and another blade 52 having an electrical contact 53 has been added in slot 54. Electrical terminal 55 is unitarily constructed with the blade. Depending upon the position of the double arcuate step 30, all of the contacts will be closed, all open, or two of the contacts will be closed. Steps 36 and 36 stop blades 19 and 52 in their proper position. This configuration would be useful in television and radio, for example. With the contacts open the appliance would be completely off. With contacts 34 and 35 closed, the appliance is turned on. With all of the contacts closed, the synchronous motor of the device will be automatically shut off at a predetermined time, thus automatically shutting off the appliance.

Thus it is seen that the present timing mechanism allows for a variety of circuits by simply using the proper number of contact blades and a proper cam programming means. Because of the construction of the blade retaining means 32 and 32a, the blades can be easily inserted by simply removing cover 15. Likewise the cam programming means 29 can be easily changed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention provides a new and improved timing device, the features of which may be applied to various arts and devices. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the scope of the invention is to be determined from the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A variable circuit timing device including a switch timing mechanism comprising: a housing for said timing mechansm, retaining means integrally formed with said housing, at least two contact blades carried by said retaining means so as to cantilever said contact blades, electrical contacts carried by said contact blades adapted to engage one another, cam follower means carried by one of said contact blades, said cam follower means responsive to cam programming means disposed within said housing and coupled to motor drive means, and a stepped seating member integrally formed with said housing including at least two steps disposed at the free end of said contact blades.

2. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 1, wherein there are two of said contact blades and said cam programming means includes a discrete arcuate step formed in its cam surface, engagement and disengagement of said step by said cam follower means causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a single pole, single throw switch.

3. A variable circuit timing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein there are two of said contact blades, and a third contact blade disposed at the free end of said first named contact blades including an electrical contact, said third contact blade fixedly held at the free end of said first named blades, and wherein said cam programming means includes a single arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said step by said cam follower means causing said switch mechanism to operate as a single pole, double throw switch.

4. A variable circuit timing mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said cam programming means includes a double arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said double step with said cam follower means causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a single pole, double throw switch with a neutral position.

5. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 1, wherein there are three of said contact blades and said cam programming means includes a double arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said double step with said cam follower means causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a double upper blade switch.

6. A variable circuit timing device having a switch timing mechanism comprising:

(a) a housing carrying said switch timing mechanism,

said housing formed from a cup shaped member and a cover adapted to close the same,

(b) a cam programming means coupled to a synchronous motor,

(c) at least two electrical switch contact blades including electrical contacts adapted to engage each other and electrical terminals integrally formed therewith, one of said blades including cam follower means responsive to said cam programming means, and

(d) contact blade retaining means integrally formed in said housing, said contact blade retaining means comprising: an L-shaped seat formed in said cup shaped member, an L-shaped seat and a rectangular shaped member extending from said cover, and notches fromed in said cup shaped member adapted to receive said L-shaped seat and said rectangular member extending from said cover, insertion of said seat and said rectangular shaped member in said notches providing slots receiving said contact blades to cantilever the same; stop means adapted to engage at least one of said blades at its opposite end, said stop means comprising: a stepped seating member extending from said cover, and notches and an L-shaped seat member formed in said cup shaped member, insertion of said stepped seating member into said notches providing a slot between said stepped seating member and said L-shaped seat member, said stepped seating member disposed to receive and stop at least one free end of said cantilevered blades, and said slot adapted to receive an additional contact blade.

7. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 6, wherein there are two of said contact blades and said cam programming means includes a discrete arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said step by said cam follower causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a single pole, single throw switch.

8. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 6, wherein there are two of said contact blades, and a third additional contact blade including an electrical contact and an electrical terminal integrally formed therewith, said additional contact blade fixedly held at the free end of said first named contact blades in said slot formed between said L-shaped seat and said stepped seating member, and wherein said cam programming means includes a single arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said single arcuate step with said cam follower causing said switch mechanism to operate as a single pole, double throw switch.

9. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 8, wherein said cam programming means includes a double arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said double arcuate step with said cam follower causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a single pole, double throw switch with a neutral position.

10. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 6, wherein there are three of said cantilevered contact blades and said cam programming means includes a double arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said double arcuate step with said cam follower causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a double upper blade switch.

11. In combination, a timing mechanism, a motor, a gear train coupling said motor to said timing mechanism, said gear train enclosed in a housing, a housing enclosing said timing mechanism, said timing mechanism including at least two contact blades, one of which is responsive to cam programming means, contact blade retaining means integrally formed in said housing enclosing said timing mechanism, said contact blade retaining means adapted to cantilever one end of said blades, stop means integrally formed in said housing enclosing said timing mechanism and disposed at the free end of said blades, said named housings connected to each other in juxtaposition, in axial alignment, the diameter of said housings being substantially the same so as to form a cylinder.

12. In combination, a timing mechanism, a motor, a gear train coupling said motor to said timing mechanism, said gear train enclosed in a housing, a housing enclosing said timing mechanism, said housing enclosing said timing mechanism including a cup shaped member and a cover a closing same, said timing mechanism including at least two contact blades, one of which is responsive to cam programming means, contact blade retaining means integrally formed in said cup shaped member and said cover, said contact blade retaining means adapted to cantilever one end of said blades, stop means integrally formed in said cover and disposed at the free end of said blade, said named housings connected to each other in juxtaposition, in axial alignment, the diameter of said housings being substantially the same so as to form a cylinder.

13. A variable circuit timing device including a switch timing mechanism comprising: a housing substantially enclosing said timing mechanism, cam programming means disposed within said housing and coupled to motor drive means, said housing including at least two sections, said sections including cooperating male and female portions,

said female portions receiving at least two movable contact blades having electrical contacts adapted to engage one another and integral electrical terminals, engagement of said male portions with said female portions cantilevering and retaining said movable contact blades, cam follower means carried by one of said contact blades, said cam follower means responsive to said cam programming means, and blade seating means disposed at the free ends of said movable contact blades.

14. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 13, wherein there are two of said contact blades and said cam programming means includes a discrete arcuate step formed in its cam surface, engagement and disengagement of said step by said cam follower means causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a single pole, single throw switch.

15. A variable circuit timing mechanism according to claim 13, wherein there are two of said contact blades, and a third contact blade disposed at the free end of said first named contact blades including an electrical contact, said third contact blade fixedly held at the free end of said first named blades, and wherein said cam programming means includes a single arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said step by said cam follower means causing said switch mechanism to operate as a single pole, double throw switch.

16. A variable circuit timing mechanism according to claim 15, *wherein said cam programming means includes a double arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said double step with said cam follower means causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a single pole, double throw switch with a neutral position.

17. A variable circuit timing device according to claim 13, wherein there are three of said contact blades and said cam programming means includes a double arcuate step, engagement and disengagement of said double step with said cam follower means causing said switch timing mechanism to operate as a double upper blade switch.

18. A variable circuit timing device including a switch timing mechanism comprising: a housing substantially enclosing said timing mechanism, cam programming means disposed within said housing and coupled to motor drive means, said housing including at least two sections, one of said sections including notches receiving at least two movable contact blades having integral electrical terminals, and electrical contacts adapted to engage one another, the other of said sections including blade retaining means, engagement of said blade retaining means into said notches retaining and cantilevering said movable contact blade, cam follower means carried by one of said blades, said cam follower means responsive to said cam programming means, and blade seating means disposed at the free ends of said movable contact blades.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,500,005 3/1970 Brown 20-38 ROBERT S. MACON, Primary Examiner J. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 200168, 166 

